Ten Best Seafood Restaurants in Broward County

For a state surrounded by water you'd think Florida would practically be swimming in seafood establishments — but not so. While South Florida seems to be chock-full of great sushi joints, hole-in-the-walls, and lots of new Peruvian places popping up everywhere, they aren't a ton of establishments that deal just in fish.

But there are some seafood joints keeping it real. From giant raw bars and casual seafood joints on the water to the fancy, high-end concepts and longtime fish favorites, here are the ten best seafood restaurants in Broward County.

Photo courtesy of Pirate's Republic

10. Pirate Republic Seafood & Grill400 SW Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-761-3500, or visit piraterepublicbar.com.This lively, pirate-themed riverfront spot offers a Caribbean-Mediterranean menu featuring all types of seafood — from whole fried snapper and shrimp alfredo to a number of island-style specialties you won't find anywhere else like the fish and shrimp vatapa, a thick Brazilian fish for two that takes several days to prepare. There are also several large seafood specialties including a traditional Brazilian seafood moqueca, Italian-style cioppino rife with lobster and octopus, and the restaurant's very own Pirate Bowl (mixed seafood including clams, calamari, shrimp, and mussels in a butter, garlic, and white wine broth).

Photo courtesy of Kelly's Landing

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9. Kelly's Landing 1305 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-760-7009, or visit kellyslanding.com.New Englanders are crazy about many things: the Patriots, the Red Sox, Narragansett Lager, and, most important, massive piles of critters from the sea. So there was no way we could compile a list of seafood spots without a pick to represent the great Northeast. At Kelly's Landing, you'll find the favorite regional beers as well as everything indicative of the area, including steamers (medium-sized clams in the shell), whole-belly Ipswich clams, lobster rolls, and some of the finest New England chowder you can find this far south.

Photo courtesy of 15th Street Fisheries

8. 15th Street Fisheries1900 SE 15th St., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-763-2777, or visit 15streetfisheries.com.This 30-plus-year-old dockside restaurant is a prime seat for people-watching and enjoying a boat parade. Nestled adjacent to the Fort Lauderdale Marina, this spot offers fresh catch for good value. Fish and chips, smoked fish dip, and conch fritters are among the offerings. The restaurant is also one of the few to stock Florida lobster. A more polished upstairs dining room offers an ambitious menu, with items to please even a food snob. Black mussels get a Florida pairing with local citrus and star fruit, in a wine and shallot broth. And a spinach salad goes tropical with passionfruit and pineapple accouterments. Happy hours lure a crowd for the two-for-one house wines, domestic drafts, and $5 menu, weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m.

Photo by Nicole Danna

7. JWB Prime Steak & Seafood1111 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood. Call 954-874-4444, or visit margaritavillehollywoodbeachresort.com.Though "seafood" is often thrown next to "steak" in great steakhouses so that nonmeat eaters know they have an option, it's a lot more than mere extra verbiage at JWB, which is just right of the giant flip-flop at the Margaritaville resort, in case you were wondering. While, yes, the prime cuts here are the main attraction, the seafood is what sets it apart. A raw bar that greets you upon entrance is full of seasonal oysters from all over the hemisphere, curated to offer the best that’s currently available. Each day has a spear-caught special, essentially seafood that someone went out and nabbed spearfishing that morning. (And although you won't even see it on the regular menu, ask your server about the secret sushi menu).

Photo courtesy of Southport Raw Bar

6. Southport Raw Bar 1536 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-525-2526, or visit southportrawbar.com. There's something about a raw bar that has been around for ages and has changed absolutely nothing. This waterfront Fort Lauderdale spot has been shucking and serving oysters to eager locals and tourists for more than 40 years — and it's still just as busy as ever. The spot has earned New Times' pick for Best Raw Bar on more than four occasions. While the place is best known for its namesake items like oysters, clams, and Old Bay shrimp, it also serves up a wide selection of delicious cooked items, such as dolphin, New England clam chowder, and some of the best conch chowder you can find on this side of the Gulf Stream. If it passed the test of generations, it's good enough for us.